Michael Schumacher information & statistics

Biography

Michael Schumacher Biography

For the moment let’s forget about the previous three seasons and focus purely on the fifteen he raced in his ‘first career’. If you do that than many will come to the conclusion that Michael Schumacher is by far the greatest formula one driver we have seen, and even the greatest of all time. Very few people change a sport singlehandedly but Schumacher did and he holds all the records that count. 7 World championships, 91 Grands prix victories, 155 podiums, 68 pole positions and over 1500 points. No superlatives could give those stats justice.

Michael Schumacher enters F1 driving the Jordan 191 at Spa

The name Schumacher first arrived in the sport back in 1991 as he earned himself a mid-season drive with Jordan replacing the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot. Despite being extremely fortunate to land the drive Schumacher mightily impressed around the magical Spa circuit and qualified 7th before retiring on lap one.

Following that he had a contract in principle to race for Jordan the following season but controversially end up at Benetton where he impressed further by coming third in the championship and claiming his first win at a wet Spa. A single success also followed in 1993 in Portugal but Schumacher and Benetton made their real mark in 1994.

Tragically the death of Brazilian hero Ayrton Senna took away the opportunity for us to see two of the all-time greats from different generations battle for the championship. Michael Schumacher had beaten Senna twice prior to his accident and a classic season was in store. Damon Hill took up the challenge to the German and only a suspect move made by Schumacher at the last race in Adelaide prevented him from beating him. Schumacher became champion, the first German champion at age 25.

1995 was a far smoother season for Michael. He dominated the championship and won nine races in the process to comfortably defend his title. That winter the double champion, and the finest driver on the grid, signed for the finest team in the sports history in need of a talisman to lead back to the glory days of the past. It was a momentous decision, as Schumacher signed for Ferrari.

Michael Schumacher Ferrari 412T 1st test (1995)

The Italian outfit were in disarray having not won a title in 17 years, for the tifosi this was not acceptable. It was a momentous task that would take time, 1996 brought three race wins and a creditable third in the championship. Not bad on the face of it, but the reality showed them a long way behind the dominant Williams team. Schumacher was driving superbly though, as his win in Spain and Italy in front of Ferrari fans proved. Ferrari weren’t a huge threat yet, but the paddock knew it was a matter of time.

1997 was far better. The Williams of Villeneuve and Schumacher had a great title fight despite Michael being in an inferior car. This time however a suspect move at the last race of the season didn’t pay off, Schumacher looked a fool and was stripped of all his points for his deliberate barge into the Williams. Villeneuve was champion.
1998 was similar, albeit this time he was fighting the McLaren of Mika Hakkinen, the man who Michael credits as his greatest rival. Fortune wasn’t on the German’s side again in the last race, a shoot out between the pair for the championship. Schumacher stalled on the start line, Mika was champion.

Following a broken leg sustained at Silverstone in 1999 which ruled him out of any championship running, Michael was ready for him make or break year in 2000. Again against Hakkinen, the pair matched each other as the championship pendulum swung between the two each race. Another shoot out at Suzuka, Japan took place. This time Schumacher won, no one was capable of stopping him. His third world championship was, as he claims the sweetest, he conquered his arch rival and in the process put to rest the pain of Ferrari to bed. From here the rest was a formality.

Schumacher on the podium in Japan (2001)

Through 2001 to 2004 Schumacher won a combined 47 races and was rarely troubled as he won four further back to back championships, eclipsing Fangio’s record and standing him alone as the most successful ever.

Formula One was a procession in those days, but the admiration of Ferrari’s and Schumacher’s achievements was felt around the world. 2005 brought with it a poor car and a single victory in the notorious 2005 US Grands prix where only 6 cars competed. But a return to form in 2006 at the age of 37 almost merited an eight title in his supposed final season. Fernando Alonso had fortune on his side as he claimed the championship as Michael slid into a three year exile.

At aged 40 he decided to make a come back, the man just couldn’t leave the sport alone. Sadly the special pace was no longer there, competitive he was, but successful he was not. Now the great man does retire for good as the sporting world shows it appreciation of an icon and a true legend.

Championship Results

Michael Schumacher F1 Championship Results

Year	Team	Engine	Races	1st	2nd	3rd	Podiums	Poles	Laps	Fastest	Avg Pts	Points
2012	Mercedes	Mercedes	20	0	0	1	1	0	923	1	2.45	49
2011	Mercedes	Mercedes	19	0	0	0	0	0	927	0	4.00	76
2010	Mercedes	Mercedes	19	0	0	0	0	0	945	0	3.79	72
2006	Ferrari	Ferrari	18	7	4	1	12	4	1092	7	6.72	121
2005	Ferrari	Ferrari	19	1	3	1	5	1	1007	3	3.26	62
2004	Ferrari	Ferrari	18	13	2	0	15	8	1089	10	8.22	148
2003	Ferrari	Ferrari	16	6	0	2	8	5	988	5	5.81	93
2002	Ferrari	Ferrari	17	11	5	1	17	7	1090	7	8.47	144
2001	Ferrari	Ferrari	17	9	5	0	14	11	1005	3	7.24	123
2000	Ferrari	Ferrari	17	9	2	1	12	9	921	2	6.35	108
1999	Ferrari	Ferrari	10	2	3	1	6	3	543	5	4.40	44
1998	Ferrari	Ferrari	16	6	2	3	11	3	921	6	5.38	86
1997	Ferrari	Ferrari	17	5	3	0	8	3	874	3	4.59	78
1996	Ferrari	Ferrari	15	3	3	2	8	3	721	2	3.93	59
1995	Benetton	Renault	17	9	1	1	11	4	965	8	6.00	102
1994	Benetton	Ford	14	8	2	0	10	6	851	8	6.57	92
1993	Benetton	Ford	16	1	5	3	9	0	726	5	3.25	52
1992	Benetton	Ford	16	1	3	4	8	0	887	2	3.31	53
1991	Benetton Jordan	Ford Ford	6	0	0	0	0	0	228	0	0.67	4

Race Results

Michael Schumacher F1 GP Race Results

Podium Finishes

Michael Schumacher F1 Podium Finishes

Pole Positions

Michael Schumacher F1 Pole Positions